Family First

Most cars owners love their cars; therefore, they would want to do anything to make them look good. However, due to lack of proper knowledge, they end up making mistakes that may cost them in future. Probably one of the least understood areas in car maintenance is car detailing and yet it is one of the most valuable services you can have done to your vehicle.

Regular car detailing ensures that your vehicle is protected and looks elegant for as long as you own it. The benefits of investing in proper car detailing are immense. If your vehicle has been neglected and it is already looking older than it should be, detailing will help to restore it to the showroom look and feel. In case you are selling your car, proper detailing will guarantee a quicker sale while increasing the value of the car to several hundred or even thousands of dollars.

However, for your car to appear elegant, you must get the detailing correct. In some cases, people make some detailing mistakes which end producing results that you never wanted. By dedicating a portion of your time to research, you can learn about the various detailing problems that people encounter and how you can avoid them.

1- Swirl Marks

Swirl marks result from the incorrect use of a high-speed rotary buffer. The first thing every car owner should put into consideration is the condition of the paint. If the paint used for car detailing is in bad shape, then it is most likely to result in swirl marks. The ink, therefore, needs multiple stages of preparation to yield some good results. The concept of avoiding swirl marks on your vehicle begins with an adequate evaluation of the paint problems and learning how to fix them. After you have learned how to fix them, then you can think of other variables such as the type of buffer machine to use, pad, and the paint correcting chemical to use.

2- Wax Residues

Most people make the mistake of pouring liquid waxes directly on the surface of the vehicle. That can result to dark and uneven streaks on the car’s finish. Instead of pouring wax directly on the car’s body, you can apply with a polisher.

Using the wax by hands may result in the use of an excess chemical which leaves much more behind the cracks and crevices. It is more recommended to use a dual action or random orbit polisher for wax application or sealant. You can also avoid wax residues by taking your time to detail the edges. Horsehair bristles can also be used to remove wax plaque with minimal scratching on the car’s surface.

3- Using Solvent-Based Rubber and Tire Chemicals

A lot of people use solvent based tire and rubber chemicals to clean the tires. Usage of these chemicals when detailing your car may adversely affect the tire’s integrity. Therefore, avoid suing solvent based chemicals.

4- Streaky Windows

A lot of people complain that even after spending countless hours detailing their cars, they can’t get the car windows crystal clear. Car windows are one of those parts of a car that needs to be 100 percent okay when the detailing is done. However, most people fail to achieve this because of a few reasons:

They use window towels to clean other parts of the vehicle.

They store used window towels together with towels used to wipe other car parts.

They use low-quality window towels that leave fibers on the window after detailing.

They wash the windows before washing other parts of the vehicle.

One of the most important things to do is to acquire a good quality towel for cleaning the car windows. In this case, you can consider using lint-free microfiber or paper towels or even a surgical towel. Besides, the car windows should be cleaned being almost, if not the last.

5- Over Saturated and Dump Carpets

Over saturated and dump carpets results to an unpleasant odor. Also, the dampness may also result into moldy and smelly carpets. It is highly recommended to detail the car interior first to avoid this problem. Thus, as the exterior is being detailed, the interior is already drying.

After you are done detailing the interior, then you need to dry the seats to avoid the foul smell. An excellent way to achieve this is by the use of car’s ventilation system. The technique involves turning on the car and the fan and the heater on its hottest setting. Then activate the air conditioning unit once it is dry.

6- Overdressing the Interior

Interior car dressing can be done using the appropriate vinyl dressing. However, when it is used in excess, it may result in an unpleasant ‘cheap dressing’ look and feel. Once you have dressed the interior, take a clean towel of your choice and buff off the excess dressing from the surface.